Friends of the National Park Service at Sandy Hook

Category: History

The Gateway National Recreation Area museum collection contains a great variety of objects ranging from artillery shells to sea shells. Aircraft to insects, this collection contains something of interest to everyone.

The museum holdings relate to the history of the park and include significant archival and historical collections related to the military, aviation and recreational stories and sites throughout the park.

These holdings also include an archeological and a natural history collection.

Through the generosity of the Sandy Hook Foundation, the National Park Service has been able to purchase items and add them to the museum collection.

Archival holdings include photographs, architectural drawings, manuals, maps, menus, newspapers and more. The history objects in the collection include a wide variety of items such as uniforms, insignia, cups, plaques and jewelry.

Inquires about the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area Museum Collection can be made by contacting Felice Ciccione at felice_ciccione@nps.gov or calling 732-345-4537 .

About The Sandy Hook Foundation

The Sandy Hook Foundation
is the official friends group of the National Park Service (NPS) at the Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area.
Established in 1989, the Foundation's goal is to nurture and protect all of Sandy Hook by supporting programs and projects of environmental, historic, and cultural importance. The Sandy Hook Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization that relies on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and corporations, as well as dedicated volunteers, to reach its goals.

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About Sandy Hook

This picturesque 2,044 acre barrier beach peninsula located on the northern tip of the New Jersey shore offers a variety of environmental, historical, and recreational resources. Featuring seven miles of ocean beaches and sand dunes, salt and freshwater marshes, hiking and biking trails and 264 acres of maritime forest, Sandy Hook is rich in ecological diversity.

Sandy Hook was designated the “Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark District” in 1982. The Fort Hancock Historic Post, located on the northern end of the peninsula, is a complex that includes many historically significant military and maritime buildings dating back to the 1800’s. Within the Post also stands the oldest, remaining lighthouse in the United States itself designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Evidence of weaponry of Ft. Hancock, including concrete gun batteries, support structures and Nike missile facilities, are located all across the Sandy Hook peninsula. Many remain visible today to remind us of Ft. Hancock’s military might in defending the metropolitan New York and northern New Jersey area for three-quarters of the last century. Sandy Hook is much more than a favorite destination for many - it is a multifaceted jewel to treasure and protect.

For more information about Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Park, visit or call the Sandy Hook Visitors Center at 732-872-5970.